AIDS/LifeCycle
AIDS/LifeCycle (ALC), formerly known as California AIDS Ride from 1994 to 2002, was a seven-day cycling tour through California, starting in San Francisco and ending in Los Angeles. Since its start in 1994, the program has raised over $300 million for HIV- and AIDS-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The final ride occurred in 2025.[1]
Description
[edit]AIDS/LifeCycle is a charity event to raise money for HIV/AIDS services and raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Participants (riders, roadies, and staff) raise money throughout the year. In the first week of June, the riders cycle from San Francisco to Los Angeles with the support of the roadies and staff. For seven days, ALC passes through communities in California as a memorial to those who have died of AIDS and as an event to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Each day of riding can range from 40-100+ miles. At the end of each day of riding, cyclists arrive in a camp to eat, shower, and rest before riding out again the next morning. Currently (as of ALC 6-8) the route is a total of about 545 miles. Mileage may change due to route/road constructions and availability of campsites.
History
[edit]In 2002, AIDS/LifeCycle was started by former Pallotta Teamworks Vice President Kevin Honeycutt, replacing the Pallotta Teamworks California AIDSRide after it was mired in controversy.[2]
Logo TV produced a multiple episode show for its network called 'The Ride: 7 Days to End AIDS', which highlights the experiences of several cyclists, both those who have lost family and those who are HIV survivors.[3]
In 2008, AIDS/LifeCycle closed registration early because of an unprecedented number of registrants.[4]
In 2024, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and Los Angeles LGBT Center announced the final year for the ride as 2025, due to increasing costs and the lack of funds as well as support to keep the event going each year. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a large drop each year in attendance and fundraising costs.[5][6]
Totals by year
[edit]| Year | Participants | Miles Ridden | Amount Raised |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | TBD | 560.5 | $17,245,239[7] |
| 2024 | 1,349 cyclists
547 roadies |
537.3 | $11,300,909 |
| 2023 | 1,457 cyclists
561 roadies |
536.9 | $11,860,000 |
| 2022 | 2,226 cyclists
573 roadies |
545.9 | $17,800,000 |
| 2021 | 1,961 | - | $2,637,795 |
| 2020 | 3,738 | - | $8,432,538 |
| 2019 | 2,200 cyclists
647 roadies |
546.1 | $16,797,717 |
| 2018 | 2,307 cyclists
659 roadies |
552.1 | $16,685,008 |
| 2017 | 2,231 cyclists
698 roadies |
552.5 | $15,309,609 |
| 2016 | 2,372 cyclists
620 roadies |
542.8 | $16,262,694 |
| 2015 | 2,401 cyclists
645 roadies |
532.01 | $16,675,273 |
| 2014 | 2,348 cyclists
589 roadies |
532.25 | $15,490,142 |
| 2013 | 2,205 cyclists
596 roadies |
542 | $14,511,424 |
| 2012 | 2,209 cyclists
568 roadies |
542.6 | $12,802,110 |
| 2011 | 2,362 cyclists
579 roadies |
540.7 | $13,357,701 |
| 2010 | 1,903 cyclists
542 roadies |
559.2 | $10,099,209 |
| 2009 | 2,158 cyclists
555 roadies |
559.2 | $11,059,923 |
| 2008 | 2,480 cyclists
531 roadies |
538.6 | $12,365,325 |
| 2007 | 2,343 cyclists
473 roadies |
556.8 | $10,685,176 |
| 2006 | 1,773 cyclists
395 roadies |
546 | $8,031,000 |
| 2005 | 1,611 cyclists
390 roadies |
544.6 | $7,156,000 |
| 2004 | 1,200 cyclists
378 roadies |
574.7 | $5,105,000 |
| 2003 | 1,009 cyclists
339 roadies |
579.5 | $4,258,000 |
| 2002 | 668 cyclists
251 roadies |
601.7 | $4,735,000 |
| 2001* | 2,812 | 585 | $11,583,000 |
| 2000* | 2,664 | 585 | $11,295,000 |
| 1999* | 2,965 | 585 | $11,607,000 |
| 1998* | 2,612 | 585 | $9,832,000 |
| 1997* | 2,485 | 585 | $9,442,000 |
| 1996* | 2,183 | 585 | $7,929,000 |
| 1995* | 1,859 | 585 | $5,349,000 |
| 1994* | 478 | 585 | $1,540,000 |
*as California AIDS Ride
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "About the Ride • AIDS/LifeCycle".
- ^ The big wheel / Critics don't faze Dan Pallotta, who has helped raise big bucks for AIDS research - and his company
- ^ "7 Days to End AIDS". Netflix. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
- ^ Diaz, Gill. "Registration closes months early for world's annual AIDS fundraiser". Los Angeles LGBT Center.
- ^ Lim, Samantha (September 12, 2024). "The SF-to-LA AIDS/LifeCycle Ride Is Ending, But the 'Love Bubble' Community Lives on". KQED. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ Kane, Astrid (August 9, 2024). "End of the LifeCycle? Beloved AIDS ride from SF to LA is heading in wrong direction". The San Francisco Standard. San Francisco. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved June 10, 2025.